Will do. Funny the mechanism stymied Dave Crossno. He couldn’t figure it out and was hesitent to take it apart.

always love that engraving pattern, simple but very stylish. Neat stock, would love to see it extended both directions.

Screw plate located on the underside of the buttstock. There are two screws used to raise and lower the buttstock. One is turned in and out the other locks the adjustment.
Other features are; the buttstock is made up of several pieces of wood, the rifle has very checkering, it had a palm rest but unfortunately only the base is present.

don't think it's a 'set' trigger, Bill. Read the description- seems to me that but one trigger is sufficient here.

Pics of innerds

I assumed there was a single-set trigger because of the screw in the usual place for one.  So, does that screw have something to do with adjusting the "multiple lever system"?

In any case, I agree that you've got one heck of a user-modified rifle.  I'm envious as all get out!

Bill Lawrence

Definitely most unusual! I’ve never seen a Ballard ever that was modified like this. Hope someone knows someone who know someone that may have built it! Even  Schoyen, Pope and others would have marveled at this engineering.

Newark has long been the industrial hub of New Jersey; in fact, one of the major industrial cities of the east coast.  I wouldn't be at all surprised if 40-82Hepburn's Ballard originated in or near there, especially considering the number of technically-trained Germans who settled in that area in the second half of the 19th century.

Speaking of piano builders, the Ballard's level of workmanship immediately put me in mind of Henry O. Studley, he of the famous tool chest.  Unfortunately, Mr. Studley apparently never ventured outside the Lowell-Boston area of Massachusetts.

Bill Lawrence